三国演义英文版-第276部分

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　they　saw　them。　In　half　a　month　they　had　scored　many　successes　of　this　sort；　and　Sima　Yi's　heart　was　cheered。　One　day；　when　he　had　made　new　captures　of　soldiers；　he　sent　for　them　and　questioned　them　again。
〃Where　is　Zhuge　Liang　now？〃
〃He　is　no　longer　at　Qishan；　but　in　camp　about　three　miles　from　the　Gourd　Valley。　He　is　gathering　a　great　store　of　grain　there。〃
After　he　had　questioned　them　fully；　he　set　the　prisoners　free。
Calling　together　his　officers；　he　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　not　camped　on　Qishan；　but　near　the　Gourd　Valley。　Tomorrow　you　shall　attack　the　Qishan　camp；　and　I　will　mand　the　reserve。〃
The　promise　cheered　them；　and　they　went　away　to　prepare。
〃Father；　why　do　you　intend　to　attack　the　enemy's　rear？〃　asked　Sima　Shi。
〃Qishan　is　their　main　position；　and　they　will　certainly　hasten　to　its　rescue。　Then　I　shall　make　for　the　valley　and　burn　the　stores。　That　will　render　them　helpless　and　will　be　a　victory。〃
The　son　exclaimed　his　admiration　for　the　plan。
Sima　Yi　began　to　march　out；　with　Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　following　as　the　reserves。
From　the　top　of　a　hill　Zhuge　Liang　watched　the　Wei　soldiers　march　and　noticed　that　they　moved　in　panies　from　three　to　five　thousand；　observing　the　front　and　the　rear　carefully　as　they　marched。　He　guessed　that　their　object　was　the　Qishan　camp。
So　he　sent　strict　orders　to　his　generals：　〃If　Sima　Yi　leads　in　person；　you　are　to　go　off　and　capture　the　Wei　camp　and　the　south　bank　of　River　Wei。〃
They　received　and　obeyed　his　orders。
When　the　troops　of　Wei　had　got　near　and　made　their　rush　toward　the　camp　of　Shu　in　Qishan；　the　troops　of　Shu　ran　up　also；　yelling　and　pretending　to　reinforce　the　defenders。　Sima　Yi；　seeing　the　Shu　troops　rushing　to　rescure　Qishan；　suddenly　marched　his　center　army's　guards　with　his　two　sons；　changed　his　direction；　and　turned　off　for　the　Gourd　Valley。　Here　Wei　Yan　was　expecting　him；　and　as　soon　as　he　appeared；　Wei　Yan　galloped　up　and　soon　recognized　Sima　Yi　as　the　leader。
〃Sima　Yi；　stay！〃　shouted　Wei　Yan　as　he　came　near。
He　flourished　his　sword；　and　Sima　Yi　set　his　spear。　The　two　warriors　exchanged　a　few　passes；　and　then　Wei　Yan　suddenly　turned　his　steed　and　bolted。　As　he　had　been　ordered；　he　made　direct　for　the　seven　star　flags；　and　Sima　Yi　followed；　the　more　readily　as　he　saw　the　fugitive　had　but　a　small　force。　The　two　sons　of　Sima　Yi　rode　with　him；　Sima　Shi　on　the　left；　Sima　Zhao　on　the　right。
Presently　Wei　Yan　and　his　troops　entered　the　mouth　of　the　valley。　Sima　Yi　halted　a　time　while　he　sent　forward　a　few　scouts。
They　returned　and　reported：　〃Not　a　single　Shu　soldier　is　seen；　but　a　many　straw　houses　are　on　the　hills。〃
Sima　Yi　said；　〃This　must　be　the　store　valley！〃
He　led　his　army　in　eagerly。　But　when　he　had　got　well　within；　Sima　Yi　noticed　that　kindling　wood　was　piled　over　the　straw　huts；　and　as　he　saw　no　sign　of　Wei　Yan；　he　began　to　feel　uneasy。
〃Supposing　soldiers　seize　the　entrance。　What　then？〃　said　he　to　his　sons。
As　he　spoke　there　arose　a　great　shout；　and　from　the　hillside　came　many　torches；　which　fell　all　around　them　and　set　fire　to　the　straw；　so　that　soon　the　entrance　to　the　valley　was　lost　in　smoke　and　flame。　They　tried　to　get　away　from　the　fire；　but　no　road　led　up　the　hillside。　Then　fire…arrows　came　shooting　down；　and　the　earth…mines　exploded；　and　the　straw　and　firewood　blazed　high　as　the　heavens。　The　fire　caused　strong　winds；　and　the　winds　aided　the　fire；　and　the　valley　became　a　fiery　stove。
Sima　Yi；　scared　and　helpless；　dismounted；　clasped　his　arms　about　his　two　sons；　and　wept；　saying；　〃My　sons；　we　three　are　doomed！〃
As　they　stood　weeping；　a　fierce　gale　suddenly　sprang　up；　black　clouds　gathered；　a　peal　of　thunder　followed；　and　rain　poured　down　in　torrents；　speedily　extinguishing　the　fire　all　through　the　valley。　The　mines　no　longer　exploded；　and　all　the　fiery　contrivances　ceased　to　work　mischief。
〃If　we　do　not　break　out　now；　what　better　chance　shall　we　have？〃　cried　Sima　Yi；　and　he　led　the　soldiers　to　make　a　dash　for　the　outlet。
As　they　broke　out　of　the　valley；　they　came　upon　reinforcements　under　Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen；　and　so　were　once　more　safe。　Ma　Dai　was　not　strong　enough　to　pursue；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wei　got　safely　to　the　river。
But　there　they　found　their　camp　in　the　possession　of　the　enemy；　while　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　were　on　the　floating　bridge　struggling　with　the　troops　of　Shu。　Sima　Yi　charged　up　hastily；　and　the　troops　of　Shu　retreated；　whereupon　Sima　Yi　crossed　the　river　and　ordered　the　bridges　burned。　He　then　occupied　the　north　bank。
The　Wei　army　attacking　the　Qishan　camp　were　greatly　disturbed　when　they　heard　of　the　defeat　of　their　mander…in…Chief　and　the　loss　of　the　camp　on　River　Wei。　The　troops　of　Shu　took　the　occasion　to　strike　with　greater　vigor；　and　so　gained　a　great　victory。　The　beaten　army　suffered　heavy　loss。　Those　who　escaped　fled　across　the　river。
When　Zhuge　Liang　from　the　hill…top　saw　that　Sima　Yi　had　been　inveigled　into　the　trap　by　Wei　Yan；　he　rejoiced　exceedingly；　and　when　he　saw　the　flames　burst　forth；　he　thought　surely　his　rival　was　done　for。　Then；　unhappily　for　him；　Heaven　thought　it　well　to　send　down　torrents　of　rain；　which　quenched　the　fire　and　upset　all　his　calculations。
Soon　after；　the　scouts　reported　the　escape　of　his　victims。
Zhuge　Liang　sighed；　saying；　〃Human　proposes；　God　disposes。　We　cannot　wrest　events　to　our　will。〃

Fierce　fires　roared　in　the　valley；
But　the　rain　quenched　them。
Had　Zhuge　Liang's　plan　but　succeeded；
Where　had　been　the　Jins？

From　the　new　camp　on　the　north　bank　of　the　river；　Sima　Yi　issued　an　order：　〃The　south　shore　has　been　lost。　If　any　of　you　proposes　going　out　to　battle　again；　he　shall　be　put　to　death！〃
Accordingly　no　one　spoke　of　attacking；　but　all　turned　their　energies　toward　defense。
Guo　Huai　went　to　the　general　to　talk　over　plans。
He　said；　〃The　enemy　have　been　carefully　spying　out　the　country。　They　are　certainly　selecting　a　new　position　for　a　camp。〃
Sima　Yi　said；　〃If　Zhuge　Liang　goes　out　to　Wugong　Hills；　and　thence　eastward　along　the　hills；　we　shall　be　in　grave　danger。　If　he　goes　westward　along　River　Wei；　and　halts　on　the　Wuzhang　Hills；　we　need　feel　no　anxiety。〃
They　decided　to　send　scouts　to　find　out　the　movements　of　their　enemy。　Presently　the　scouts　returned　to　say　that　Zhuge　Liang　had　chosen　the　Wuzhang　Hills。
〃Our　great　Emperor　of　Wei　has　remarkable　fortune；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　clapping　his　hand　to　his　forehead。
Then　he　confirmed　the　order　to　remain　strictly　on　the　defensive　till　some　change　of　circumstances　on　the　part　of　the　enemy　should　promise　advantage。
After　his　army　had　settled　into　camp　on　the　Wuzhang　Hills；　Zhuge　Liang　continued　his　attempts　to　provoke　a　battle。　Day　after　day；　parties　went　to　challenge　the　army　of　Wei；　but　they　resisted　all　provocation。
One　day　Zhuge　Liang　put　a　dress　made　of　deer　hide　in　a　box；　which　he　sent；　with　a　letter；　to　his　rival。　The　insult　could　not　be　concealed；　so　the　generals　led　the　bearer　of　the　box　to　their　chief。　Sima　Yi　opened　the　box　and　saw　the　deer　hide　dress。　Then　he　opened　the　letter；　which　read　something　like　this：
〃Friend　Sima　Yi；　although　you　are　a　mander…in…Chief　and　lead　the　armies　of　the　Middle　Land；　you　seem　but　little　disposed　to　display　the　firmness　and　valor　that　would　render　a　contest　decisive。　Instead；　you　have　prepared　a　fortable　lair　where　you　are　safe　from　the　keen　edge　of　the　sword。　Are　you　not　very　like　a　deer？　Wherefore　I　send　the　bearer　with　a　suitable　gift；　and　you　will　humbly　accept　it　and　the　humiliation；　unless；　indeed；　you　finally　decide　to　e　out　and　fight　like　a　warrior。　If　you　are　not　entirely　indifferent　to　shame；　if　you　retain　any　of　the　feelings　of　a　tiger；　you　will　send　this　back　to　me　and　e　out　and　give　battle。〃
Sima　Yi；　although　inwardly　raging；　pretended　to　take　it　all　as　a　joke　and　smiled。
〃So　he　regards　me　as　a　deer；〃　said　he。
He　accepted　the　gift　and　treated　the　messenger　well。　Before　the　messenger　left；　Sima　Yi　asked　him　a　few　questions　about　his　master's　eating　and　sleeping　and　hours　of　labor。
〃The　Prime　Minister　works　very　hard；〃　said　the　messenger。　〃He　rises　early　and　retires　to　bed　late。　He　attends　personally　to　all　cases　requiring　punishment　of　over　twenty　of　strokes。　As　for　food；　he　does　not　eat　more　than　a　few　pints　of　grain　daily。〃
〃Indeed；　Zhuge　Liang　eats　little　and　works　much；〃　remarked　Sima　Yi　to　his　generals。　〃Can　he　last　long？〃
The　messenger　returned　to　his　own　side　and　reported　to　Zhuge　Liang；　saying；　〃Sima　Yi　took　the　whole　episode　in　good　part　and　shown　no　sign　of　anger。　He　only　asked　about　the　Prime　Minister's　hours　of　rest；　and　food；　and　such　things。　He　said　no　word　about　military　matters。　I　told　him　that　you　ate　little　and　worked　long　hours；　and　then　he　said；　'Can　he　last　long？'　That　was　all。〃
〃He　knows　me；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　pensively。
First　Secretary　Yang　Yong　presently　ventured　to　remonstrate　with　his　chief。
〃I　notice；〃　said　Yang　Yong；　〃that　you　check　the　books　personally。　I　think　that　is　needless　labor　for　a　Prime　Minister　to　undertake。　In　every　administration　the　higher　and　subordinate　ranks　have　their　especial　fields　of　activity；　and　each　should　confine　his　labors　to　his　own　field。　In　a　household；　for　example；　the　male　plows　and　the　female　cooks；　and　thus　operations　are　carried　on　without　waste　of　energy；　and　all　needs　are　supplied。　If　one　individual　strives　to　attend　personally　to　every　matter；　he　only　wearies　himself　and　fails　to　acplish　his　end。　How　can　he　possibly　hope　to　perform　all　the　various　tasks　well？

＇e＇　Bing　Ji　was　a　prime　minister　of　Western　Han。　One　day；　while　riding　in　his　cart　with　attendants；　they　came　across　brawling　people　by　the　road。　He　continued　without　concern。　They　then　came　across　a　man　with　an　water　buffalo　panting。　He　immediately　stopped　to　ask　how　long　they　had　been　traveling。　His　attendants　were　puzzled　as　to　why　he　was　more　concerned　about　an　ox　than　injured　people。　He　replied　that　fighting　was　a　matter　for　local　officials；　but　an　ox　panting　in　early　spring　（if　not　traveling　for　long）　suggested　unusual　heat；　which　could　have　disastrous　results　for　all。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Chen　Ping　（BC　？…178）　a　master　strategist　of　Liu　Bang。　He　first　served　Xiang　Yu　but　then　became　a　follower　in　Liu　Bang's　camp。　Served　as　Liu　Bang's　prime　minister　and　Empress　Lu's　left　minister。　After　the　death　of　Empress　Lu；　Chen　Ping　played　an　important　role　in　returning